Head of Operations and Manufacturing in Hebburn

We’re looking for a decisive, hands‑on Head of Operations and Manufacturing to lead our manufacturing and fabrication operations through a critical phase of improvement and growth. This is a high‑impact role at the heart of the business, reporting to our Managing Director where production discipline, technical credibility, and strong leadership genuinely move the needle. If you excel in challenging settings, know how to stabilise and improve performance, and can build robust production capability, this is a chance to shape a facility with significant potential.

You will take full ownership of the manufacturing and fabrication function, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient output across welding, plating, and other heavy engineering disciplines, including CNC Plasma and Gas cutting and a semi-automated panel production line. Working as a peer to the Programme Director, you’ll ensure production flow supports project delivery and customer milestones. You’ll lead a team including your Production Manager and Supervisors, driving a culture of accountability, technical excellence, and continuous improvement. A key priority will be maximising the use of equipment, labour, and workshop space to deliver predictable, dependable production flow.

What you’ll do:

• Lead and develop your fabrication function and the apprenticeship program
• Drive gains in productivity, quality, safety, and schedule adherence
• Optimise shop‑floor layout, equipment utilisation, and workforce deployment
• Training and skill set development to ensure our workforce is fully skilled in multi disciplines
• Embed Lean, Six Sigma, and CI practices that deliver measurable results
• Work closely with Project Managers to align resources with complex build programmes
• Strengthen trade discipline and reinforce engineering‑led decision‑making
• Operate effectively within a unionised workforce
• Grow leadership capability across your production teams
• Contribute directly to the wider business turnaround and operational strategy

Who are we looking for?

An experienced production leader who has developed from a trade background and understands the demands of heavy fabrication and engineering environments.

• Time‑served apprenticeship in a relevant heavy engineering trade (welding, plating, fabrication, fitting, etc.)
• HNC / HND or equivalent technical progression would be good
• Strong track record in leading production teams within fabrication or heavy engineering
• Deep understanding of Lean, Six Sigma, and CI tools
• Practical experience working with unionised labour
• Proven leadership in fast‑paced, complex, or turnaround settings

What do you need to be?

• Technically credible and respected by tradespeople
• An exceptional planner with a focus on production flow and resource optimisation
• Decisive, pragmatic, and confident in high‑pressure situations
• Able to motivate and challenge teams while building capability
• Commercially aware and delivery‑driven

Why Join Us?

This is a significant leadership role within a business on the move. You’ll have the mandate—and the support—to stabilise, strengthen, and modernise the manufacturing and fabrication operations, leaving a lasting impact on production capability and performance. If you want to lead real change in a solid, honest engineering environment, we want to hear from you.

Personal Growth: This is an opportunity to make a significant impact while working with and learning from a team of experts from the marine and structural engineering industries.

Financial Security: with important benefits like your Pension which includes a monthly employer contribution by A&P Tyne up to 4% and Life cover at 7 x your basic salary is part of your package.

Healthy Living: At APCL we support healthy living and provide help when its needed. To ensure that you are able to take time off when you need it, we offer sick pay and to cover everyday health we have a health cash plan, which gives you access to money back on everyday healthcare costs. Your dental, optical and physiotherapy as well as wellness services including counselling sessions, digital mental health support, 24/7 virtual GP, and an EAP are included.

Work-life Balance: We offer 25 days of annual leave per year plus Bank Holidays. Maternity, Paternity and Parental leave support you during those significant life changes, helping you to balance your family responsibilities with work.

Due to the nature of what we do for some of the customers that we work with, some roles working for A&P are subject to security control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors including your nationality, any previous nationalities you have held, and your place of birth may limit those roles you can perform with us. You must also undergo a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check before your employment starts, which will include a basic DBS check.